An overwhelming feeling of amazement embodies a person when looking at the gorgeous, elaborated designs created by ancient scribes. Modern design follows the principles of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity defined in our present time, and whose acronym reads C.R.A.P.; we find that ancient manuscripts were everything but that. Ancient designs followed only the sense of aesthetic possessed by the creator of a manuscript. Knowing nothing about these modern principles they were able to create astonishing pieces of art by hand, in collaboration or individually, creating images that were pleasing to the eye and maintained a printed look.
The consistency of design in the Book of Kells, the ninth century manuscript of the Gospel, shows the incredible beauty and intricate details of the Celtic art. With a variety of colors it portrays an amazing sense of contrast in balancing the image and allowing the viewer to immerse himself in the design. In Plate I, the viewer is introduced to the repetition principle in the combination of colors dividing the text columns. This angular design repeats itself throughout the collection of plates clustering text within graphic bars and columns characteristic of Celtic designs. When text is presented it is aligned in a justified format giving strength to the design of each plate. The images are very well balanced and aligned depending on the requirements of each theme, such as in Plate IV, The Evangelical Symbols, where the four elements portrayed show a center alignment, balancing the axis by drawing the wing designs as mirror of each other. Finally, the manuscript shows the principle of proximity by incorporating images within the text related to the context, giving the reader an opportunity to identify the reading with a visual element.
The reader leaves the pages of this manuscript with a renewed sense of beauty and a wonderment of the hard labor of ancient scribes. Modernity brings to us the chance to admire the art of the past without leaving the comfort of our home.
Ancient Manuscript Review
An overwhelming feeling of amazement embodies a person when looking at the gorgeous, elaborated designs created by ancient scribes. Modern design follows the principles of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity defined in our present time, and whose acronym reads C.R.A.P.; we find that ancient manuscripts were everything but that. Ancient designs followed only the sense of aesthetic possessed by the creator of a manuscript. Knowing nothing about these modern principles they were able to create astonishing pieces of art by hand, in collaboration or individually, creating images that were pleasing to the eye and maintained a printed look.
The consistency of design in the Book of Kells, the ninth century manuscript of the Gospel, shows the incredible beauty and intricate details of the Celtic art. With a variety of colors it portrays an amazing sense of contrast in balancing the image and allowing the viewer to immerse himself in the design. In Plate I, the viewer is introduced to the repetition principle in the combination of colors dividing the text columns. This angular design repeats itself throughout the collection of plates clustering text within graphic bars and columns characteristic of Celtic designs. When text is presented it is aligned in a justified format giving strength to the design of each plate. The images are very well balanced and aligned depending on the requirements of each theme, such as in Plate IV, The Evangelical Symbols, where the four elements portrayed show a center alignment, balancing the axis by drawing the wing designs as mirror of each other. Finally, the manuscript shows the principle of proximity by incorporating images within the text related to the context, giving the reader an opportunity to identify the reading with a visual element.
The reader leaves the pages of this manuscript with a renewed sense of beauty and a wonderment of the hard labor of ancient scribes. Modernity brings to us the chance to admire the art of the past without leaving the comfort of our home.
Reference:
Sullivan, E. (1920). The book of kells. Sacred Texts. London, Paris, New York. Retrieved on 01/25/12 from http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/bok/bok00.htm
ET8028
EDLD 5366
Cohort 17
Ana McKinney
Garland ISD